Jim Tyrer

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Jim Tyrer
Date of birth	February 25, 1939
Place of birth	Newark, OH
Date of death	September 15, 1980
Place of death	Kansas City, MO
Position(s)	Offensive tackle
College	Ohio State
AFL Draft	1961 / Round 3
NFL Draft	1961 / Round 14
Jersey Number	77, 71
Career highlights
TSN All-AFL	1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
AFL All-Star	1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969
AFC-NFC Pro Bowl	1971, 1972
Honors	American Football League Champion 1962, 1966, and 1969 World Champion, 1969 AFL All-Time Team KC Chiefs Hall of Fame, 1978
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference NFL.com
Teams
1961-1962 1963-1969 1970-1973 1974	AFL Dallas Texans AFL Kansas City Chiefs NFL Kansas City Chiefs NFL Washington Redskins

James Efflo Tyrer (February 25, 1939 – September 15, 1980) was an American football offensive tackle who earned All-America honors at Ohio State University before playing professionally for 14 years. Tyrer retired as a player after the 1974 season.

Born in Newark, Ohio, he signed with the American Football League's Dallas Texans in 1961. He played 13 years with that franchise, which became the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963, helping set the standard for his position, and he concluded his career in 1974 with the NFL Washington Redskins,

Ranking among the best offensive tackles of his era, Tyrer used a crushing blocking style to maintain a consistent level of play that helped the Chiefs reach two of the first four Super Bowls. He served as an anchor for the Texans' (who became the Kansas City Chiefs in 1963) line, and was selected as The Sporting News'' AFL All-League tackle eight consective years, from 1962 through 1969. He was an AFL Western Division All-Star seven times, in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968 and 1969 before also capturing a pair of All-AFC accolades in 1970-71. His efforts in the upstart league would result in his selection to the American Football League All-Time Team.

In Super Bowl IV, Tyrer used his uncanny ability to open a hole for Chiefs running backs, single-handedly taking on two of the Minnesota Vikings's vaunted defensive linemen to help the team to an upset 23-7 victory. Tyrer was named AFL Offensive Lineman of the Year that same year and play in 180 consecutive games for the franchise. He wore jersey number 77 while with the Chiefs.

Remaining in the Kansas City area following his retirement, Tyrer turned down an opportunity to serve as a scout for the Chiefs. He then spent the next three years as a salesman before tiring of the constant travel and investing in a tire business. However, a mild winter proved to be financially disastrous for Tyrer, who moved on to work for Amway.

This series of business misfortunes culminated on September 15, 1980 when Tyrer, the father of four, shot his wife and then committed suicide by turning the gun on himself.

Tyrer had once summarized his position by saying, "You have to have a certain personality to be an offensive lineman. You have to be orderly, disciplined. You have to take the shots like a hockey goalie. It's a passive violence. You build up anxiety. But when you finally get a clear shot at a guy you say, 'Take this for all of those'."